Back rest for bathtubs



BACK REST FOR BATHTUBS VFiled March 2, 1939 Patented Nov. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES y y 2,221,297l f PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to back rests for bath# tubs. y

In taking a bath and especially one in Which the body is to be given a thorough cleansing while "l5r the person sits in the ordinary bathtub, Vthe occupant of the tub would be much more comfortable if it were possible, with comfort, to lean against the sloping back portion of the tub. However, y, notwithstanding the fact that the bath may be l taken in quite warm water, that portion of the tub above the water line remains cold and for that reason, as well as the fact that it presents a hard, unyielding surface, it does not provide a comfortable or satisfactory supportfor the l human back.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a back rest by which these disadvantages are overcome.

Another object is to furnish a device or article which is very simple in form and can be produced at quite low cost although it provides a very satisfactory support for the persons back.

Another object is to furnish an article which can readily be held in place relatively to the tub, and which can be used and disposed of after use with the greatest facility and convenience.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel features and combinationsI of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a portion of a bathtub showing a preferred form of my artic-le applied to the tub;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan View of the article-as it'appears when removed from the tub, and

Figs. 3 and 4 are detailed sections on lines 3 3 and 4 4 respectively of Fig. 2.

The particular back rest selected for illustration is one in which the supporting element for o contacting and supporting the persons back is narrow and elongated and relatively shallow although constructed to provide a sufficiently soft comfortable support between the persons back and the inclined surface at the central rear part of the tub; and this cushioning member is comprised of a filling of libre, such as lulfa, anda covering of fairly soft knit material. The support proper or cushion is held in place merely by positioning the article on the tub wall in such a manner that it hangs over the rim of the tub, the weight being distributed so as to hold the back rest in place by gravity without the necessity of attaching or securing it to any part ofthe tub, as has usually been necessary heretofore. In the case illustrated, there is provided, in order to produce'this result, an extension from the upper end of the pad or cushion, which extension is flexible and at the same time fairly heavy so that it will lie and be held in position over the rim of the tub vfor the purpose of properly holding in place its 5 attached cushion or pad'portion. In the particular device illustrated, this kflexible pad-holding eX- tension is constituted by a fairly thick web of. rubber or like. material attached in a suitable manner to the upper end of the pad. im

In the drawing, the bathtub is shown at 5, the same being illustrated as having the usual outwardly and downwardly turned rim 6, and the inclined Wall at the central rear portion of the tub is shown at 'I. The pad or cushion is shown at 8, and it will be seen that the same is disposed in the central rear part of the tub against wall 'I. The rubber ,extension or Web previously mentioned by which the pad is held in place is shown at 9. y

In constructing the article I prefer to form the pad portion of luffa encased in a suitable textile cover which will be comfortable tothe persons bac-k. It is possible to procure readily in the market a knitted tube of any suitable length and having a circumferential dimension similar to that of a stocking. These tubes are made of soft yarn and are quite suitable for my purpose. For creating a suitable pad I prefer to use two knit tubes, each containing a luiia, and toattach together side by side two pads so formed. In the drawing, the pad 8 shown in Fig. 2 is shown as' composed of a knit tube I0 and a similar tube I I, each covering a luifa I2. The luffa or other filling I2 is preferably arranged so as-to provide a pad of less depth than Width, or, in other words, a pad which is comparatively shallow.

In the form shown, the two elongated pads IIJ and II are flexibly interconnected at their adjacent edges, this being effected by providing stitching I3, and this stitching may extend from the lower end of the pad to a point intermediate of the ends of the latter. 'I'he lower and upper ends of the knit tubes are closed in any suitable manner in order to prevent escape of the filling.

The member 9 is preferably made of rubber or rubber substitute, and is in the form of a fairly thick sheet so as to provide the necessary weight as well as flexibility for holding the pad in position. The'rubber-like web may have a reduced portion or neck I4 between its body and an end portion or extremity I5, which provides an edge for attaching the adjacent portions of the pads I0 and II. In Fig. 4 I have shown the knit cover I6 of pad II folded in at Il at the upper end thereof and the folded portion attached to web 9 by convenient means such as staples I8. This particular method of fastening, however, is only illustrated by Way of example.

It will be apparent that in the use of the article the web 9 presents a considerable area in contact with the upper surface of the rim 6 of the tub, the flexible character of the web enabling it to conform closely to the tub rim. In this manner the web is frictionally held in position. It will also be understood that as the Web material is quite heavy in comparison to the pad material, the weight of the article Will be properly distributed for holding the article in position on the tub if the pad is provided with a relatively small positioning web arranged substantially in the manner shown in Fig. 1. It is,.of course, understood, however, that the dimensions indicated in the drawing are merely by Way of eX- ample.

It is a feature of advantage that the lula lling is employed in its unitary form. Each luifa as purchased in the market, after such slight trimming as may be necessary, is covered over with a covering such as that described, and it is unnecessary to effect any disintegration prior to filling the coverings or casings. A luffa is of the proper length for the purposes in View, and Where two luffas are employed, as above described, a very comfortable pad, having a longitudinal central depression, is created. The material in question also has a resiliency or springiness Which adapts it admirably to the purpose. The color of the knit or other pliable porous covering and of the anchoring member can be chosen to be in harmony with the color scheme of the bathroom.

It will be seen that the article is quite simple and can be quite cheaply produced in quantity, and that it provides a very comfortable rest for the human back in that it is soft and fairly smooth, so as not to hurt the skin, while at the same time the temperature of the back-contacting surface Will be comfortable. The article can be easily dried after being wet, and can be readily cleansed when soiled,- and easily kept in a sanitary condition. Convenience in use of the article will also be apparent in that it can be very easily placed in position relatively to the tub, easily removed when desired, and conveniently stored When not in use.

`While I have shown herein a preferred form of the article, it will be understood that many changes in the details and various modifications may be made Without departing from the principles of the invention or the scope of the claim.

What I claim is:

A back rest for bathtubs comprising luffas in parallel side by side arrangement, closely tting individual covers therefor of knit material suitably interconnected, and a flexible member secured to the covers adapted to rest on and conform itself to the rim of the tub.

ARNOLD G. DANA. 

